Gland suitable for turbine shafts



y 3 1932 c. A. PARSONS 1,861,132

GLAND SUITABLE FOR TURBINE SHAFTS Filed lllay 23, 1931 2 Sheet-Sheet 1 May 31,1932. c. A. PARSONS GLAND SUITABLE FOR TURBINE SHAFTS Filed May 25, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Pig/5.

7 mm W,

MMM

-Patented May 31, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CHARLES ALGEBNON PARSONS, DECEASED, LATE OF NEW CASTLE-ON -TYNE, ENGLAND,

BY KATHABIN E PARSONS, OF KIBKWHELPDTGTON, ENGLAND; VINCENT THOMPSON,

OF NEWOASTLE-ON-TYNE, AND FREDERICK GORDON HAY BEDFORD, OF WYLAM-ON- TYNE, ENGLAND, LEGAL REFRESEN'I'ATIVES GLAND SUITABLE FOR TURBINE SHAFTS Application filed Kay 28, 1931, Serial No. 589,622, and in Great Britain May 15, 1980.

The invention relates to glands suitable for turbine shafts though applicable in addition to analogous purposes.

In turbine glands having a plurality of gland pockets, it has been proposed to allow a slight leakage of steam into the engine room in order to indicate that no air is flowing into the gland. Apart from causing a certain waste of steam, however, this practice has disadvantages due to condensation in the engine room on electrical switches and other apparatus, discomfort to the stafi and loss of fresh water.

With a view to overcoming such objections,

proposals have been made for connecting the outer pocket of the gland or the vapour hood just inside the outer pocket to a condenser and the present invention seeks to provide a simpler and better form of apparatus for 2 the same purpose.

With such an object, the present invention consists in a gland as indicated connected to a vapour pipe in which leakage steam is condensed on its assage therethrough, for

example on a cooling surface such as a conper pipe through which cold water is passed.

The invention also consists in a device as set forth in the preceding paragraph in which the leakage steam passes upwards through the vapour pipe, preferably open-ended and connected direct to the gland, and the condensate falls back on to a bafile which directs it to the outlet where it can be readily observed.

The invention further consists in the improved gland devices and turbines or the like fitted therewith to be hereinafter described or indicated.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are in part of a diagrammatic nature:

Figure 1 shows a longitudinal sectional elevation of part of a turbine provided with one form of the present invention;

Figures 2 and 3 show to a larger scale vertical cross sections at right anglesof the base fitting and baflle of Figure 1; while finally Figures 4 and 5 show similar cross sections of a modified form of the same parts. The same reference symbols are used in the different figures to denote corresponding parts.

In carrying the invention into efi'ect according to the form shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, applied to a turbine having a. stator, 2, and rotor, 3, the outer pocket, 4, of the gland receivlng leakage steam from the carbon packmg, 5, is connected directly by the duct, 6, to a base fitting, 7, to which is screwed a vertical vapour pipe or chimney, 8, having its upper end open to the atmosphere. The base fitting, 7, has a central duct, 9, leading from the connecting duct, 6, to the interior of the vapour pipe, the duct, 9, being provided at its outlet with an upstanding annular wall, 10, and carrying a bridge or yoke, 11, on which is centrally mounted a battle, 12, taking the form of an inverted cup of a diameter greater than that of the annular wall, 10.

A drainage or condensate outlet, 13, is provided in the base fitting, 7, at a point outside the annular wall, 10, this outlet leading to a drain pipe, 14, with its open end visibly'arran ed in relation to a funnel, 15.

ithin the vapour pipe, 8, is arranged a condenser which consists of a number of loops of tube, 16, for example of copper, through which condensate or circulating Water is passed, the inlet, 17, and outlet, 18, of the loops passing through holes or slots, 19, at opposite points of the wall of the vapour p pe nealr its upper or open end, as shown in ccording to this form of the invention, steam leaking from the glands passes by convection through the central aperture, 9, of the base fitting, 7, on each side of the bridge or yoke, 11, and thence round the bafiie, 12, upward through the vapour pipe, 8, in contact with the condenser tubes, 16. The resulting condensate falls back on the battle which prevents it passing into the gland and directs it to the outlet," 13, and drain pipe, 14, whence its .efliux can be readily observed by the attendant and the packing adjusted as desired.

Alternatively, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, the bafiie may take the form of aninclined disc, 20, supported on two opposite lugs, 21, 21, projecting from the annular wall, 10, the

disc projecting beyond the central aperture or wall and tilting preferably towards the drainage or condensate outlet, 13.

The circulating water may pass through the condenser either under gravity or under the action of a pump.

According to a modification of the invention, the condenser is of the air-cooled type, open-ended air pipes in communication with the atmosphere being arranged Within the vapour pipe, and internal baflles being provided if desired to deflect the leakage steam across the cooling surfaces.

In this form of the invention, air passes upwards through the condenser tubes b convection, the vapour pipe being of su cient height as give the necessary draught while, if desired, the lower ends of the air pipes may be connected by an external pipe (or pipes) to the bottom of the engine-room or other point where the air is cooler.

According to another modification, a condenser may be used consisting of a pipe system, for example as in the first form of the invention described, cooled by air forced through the tubes by means of a fan.

In all forms of the invention, the condensate is or may be returned to the feed system, so as to eliminate or reduce waste.

Variations may be made in the details or components of the structures described without exceeding the scope of the invention.

Having now described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is 1. Packing means for the shaft of a con densable elastic-fluid machine wherein it is desired to prevent waste of the actuating fluid, comprising a casing, a multi-stage gland in the wall thereof, a shaft passing through said gland to atmosphere, said gland reducing the pressure of said actuating fluid to substantially atmospheric pressure at a point intermediate the ends thereof, means for subjecting leakage of elastic fluid along -said gland to a convection draught, said means including an upwardly extending pipe connected at its lower end to said point intermediate the ends of said gland and open at its upper end, and means for condensing condensable leakage fluid within said pipe.

2. Packing means for the shaft of a condensable elastic-fluid machine wherein it is desired to prevent waste 'of the actuating fluid, comprising a casing, a multi-stage gland in the wall thereof, a shaft passing through said gland to atmosphere, said gland reducing the pressure of said actuating fluid to substantially atmospheric pressure at a point intermediate the ends thereof, means for subjecting leakage of elastic-fluid along said gland to a convection draught, said means including an upwardly extending pipe connected at its lower end to said point in termediate the ends of said gland and open at its upper end, means for condensing condensable leakage fluid within said pipe, and

reducing the pressure of said actuating fluid to substantially atmospherie pressure at a point intermediate the ends thereof, means for subjecting leakage of elastic-fluid along said gland to a convection draught, said means including an upwardly extending pipe connected at its lower end to said point in termediate the ends of said gland and open at its upper end, means for condensing condensable leakage fluid within said pipe, said condensing means comprising a plurality of tube loops depending from the up er end of said pipe and disposed therewithin.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification.

CHARLES ALGERNON PARSONS,

Deceased, By KATHARINE PARSONS,

VINCENT THOMPSON, FREDERICK GORDON HAY BEDFORD,

Legal Representatives. 

